Clare Robson is the Principal of Prima and is a fully
qualified Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance and the British Ballet Organization (both accredited by the Council for Dance Education and Training) with over 10 years teaching
experience. She is an RAD
approved Mentor for
the Certificate in Ballet & Teaching Studies, which is the teacher training
programme run by the RAD and is a member of the RAD’s Regional Advisory
Committee. Clare is also an active Festival Adjudicator.
Clare’s
own dance training included study at the Ecole De Ballet Gillet-Lypszyc in France, the North of England
College of Dance, Roehampton University School of Arts in London and Newcastle College. She is qualified to Advanced RAD level and plans on applying to become an RAD Examiner in the future.
As part of the teacher training programme run by the Royal Academy of Dance, Clare was required to study and pass exams in the following modules during her three year training period:
— Classical dance and technique
— The principles of teaching
— Music for teaching
— Class content and structure
— Teaching of character and free
movement
— Teaching of boys
— Anatomy
— Teaching of pointe work
These units ensure that Clare understands the different methods of teaching and allows her to implement them effectively and more importantly safely. It is essential that the bones and muscles of children are treated correctly as poor posture, overturning and bad technique can lead to many problems with the development of young bones. However, with correct teaching, dance can vastly improve posture and increase mobility, strength and stamina.
Clare is also a qualified Associate Teacher of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA - recognised by the British Dance Council) enabling her to teach modern jazz, national and ballet and to train other teachers up to Associate Teacher status. The IDTA is the largest dance organisation worldwide and is widely recognised.
Clare has also earned certificates from St. Johns Ambulance in Emergency First Aid and Lifesaver Babies & Children (updated regularly) as well as having a GCSE in Childcare and Development and an NOCN Certificate in Child Psychology. Clare also holds Enhanced Disclosure (police clearance as recommended for working with children) and undertakes regular Continuous Professional Development, attending training and refresher courses several times a year.